861.01/1759
The Ambassador in Turkey (Sherrill) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 4.]
Sir: Today, during my first reception by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tevfik Rüstü Bey, he made two statements which seem of interest because of the source.
He returned yesterday from an extensive visit to the Soviet Government in Moscow. He said they told him that peace would not finally be secured in the Pacific until the United States recognized the Soviet Government!
He also said the Soviet Government told him that, although they were massing troops on the Manchurian frontier, they had no hostile intentions against Japan, and believed that the Japanese had none against them, although also massing troops. When I asked him what he thought Japan’s point of view was on that subject it seemed a novel thought, and presently he replied “that is probably represented by an interrogation point”. But evidently, until I asked the question, he had been letting the Soviet’s peaceable statement stand for the intentions of both parties, without thinking that the Japanese army party might consider this a convenient time to attack the Soviets.
Respectfully yours,